Kachina

A kachina (/kəˈtʃiːnə/; Hopi: katsina [kaˈtsʲina], plural katsinim [kaˈtsʲinim]) is a spirit being in the religious beliefs of the Pueblo people, Native American cultures from the southwestern United States. Kachina rites are practiced primarily by the Hopi, Hopi-Tewa, and Zuni peoples, as well as by certain Keresan tribes and most Pueblo communities in New Mexico. The kachina concept encompasses three distinct aspects: the supernatural beings themselves, the kachina dancers who embody these spirits in ceremonies, and kachina dolls, which are small carved representations of the spirits given only to those who will be responsible for their respectful care and well-being, such as mothers, wives, or sisters.